Training Building Blocks
for Deimos
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
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MP: 10170
#1
Defense, Ludo had suggested.

Or at least, practice being less squishy.

Tal would have been offended by that if the god hadn't been right.

Well. More offended, at any rate. Even with a god he could manage a little grumpiness at being called out on his glaring weakness.

But here he was at the Barracks, a short spear held a little awkwardly in one hand and a shield (that was absolutely too big for his scrawny arm) held even more awkwardly in the other. He'd asked for the General's help, and while he waited for his friend to finish up the tasks that filled Deimos's days he'd taken the opportunity to get started on his own.

Tal stood braced in front of one of the spinning dummies, using his spear to stab forward and attack its own 'shield' target on one arm and creating the momentum for it's other arm with the heavy leather ball attached to swing around towards him while he tried to get his shield into position to block it.

There were going to be bruises tomorrow, but in spite of the broad heater shield being too heavy for him he had almost figured out the trick to deflecting instead of taking the hit straight on - with all the bruising momentum that came with it.

Deimos
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
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#2
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
Deimos’s General duties were rarely complete – much to be done in the way of fixing schedules, training constituents, lending and blending exercises, climbing wall enterprises, and even facets of the truly mundane, liking picking up the weaponry, and making repairs. He leaned against one of the walls, nodding towards the soldiers who were finishing up or just starting, warming up their hands close to the braziers, when Talyson meandered in. the Sword said nothing as the courier made his selection, the spear unsurprisingly, but the shield far too large for his arm – pondering when the notions of even grabbing one had started. Finalizing another stitch in a piece of armor, and watching the youth from the corner of his eye, some motions were correct.

When he couldn’t take it anymore, the Sword maneuvered away from the others, placing the leather pieces down amongst their fixed brethren, and striding over to a set of armaments and shields. Selecting another, slightly smaller and lighter than Talyson’s chosen guard, he strode over. “That is too big for you,” came by way of announcing his presence, before immediately grabbing the one in the courier’s hands, and trading it out. With his impassive features, he glanced downward, arching his brow, toying with the broader piece of metal in his hands. “We train with the right equipment, so the practice is correct as well.”

And then his gaze landed on the target, for it had been an alteration in the man’s routine. “What brought this on?”
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#3
Tal finished blocking the dummy's current swing, the 'mace' sliding off his tilted shield a little more smoothly, before he let the heavy armament drop point first to the snow so he could grin at Deimos. "But if it's bigger, it can protect more of me, right?"

Though his aching bicep begged to differ, and he didn't argue as he accepted the trade and hefted the lighter one with overt relief on his honest face. This time when he lashed out at the target he jerked the shield up--

Too high, not accounting for the light weight, and the leather ball smashed into the lower part of the shield and set the courier stumbling back a few steps with a Whoof! of air knocked out of him.

"Uh. I asked for somethin' to protect me from getting hit, an' Ludo told me I needed to practice being less squishy," he admitted ruefully. "So I'm tryin' to work on my defense today."
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#4
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
“Not if you are too tired to lift it properly,” and he snorted, not bothering to hide the rolling of his eyes. When Talyson had gained some more awareness, muscle, and bulk, perhaps he’d be able to wield the one Deimos now alternated along his palm, spinning it around like a disc.

Watching the spectacle at hand was intriguing enough, and the Sword was half-entertained by witnessing the leather proportions smack the courier back, maybe in an endless loop. Instead though, his head tilted vaguely, listening as his eyes went back to the shield in his hand. A jocular intonation settled through, sarcasm biting upon his tongue without refrain. “Not going to jump on it?” A reference to their landshark disaster and lack of forethought, wondering why a god needed to tell him the most basic of common sense, but he meandered off for a moment afterwards, placing the defensive mechanism back upon the shelf, and snagging at a wooden sword.

Only to return, facing the younger, smaller individual. “Take your stance. You will be better off listening and trying.”
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#5
For someone who'd only really started training in earnest a little more than two seasons ago, Tal thought he was doing pretty good. Not as well as he wanted to be doing; impatient for progress and wanting to live up to the expectations of his new friends, nothing was fast enough. But he'd been going from on extreme to the other without pausing much in between.

From running from ursurs and fights he knew he couldn't win, to training to stand his ground and win those fights with an 'offense is the best defense' mindset, one could successfully argue that moderation hadn't really occurred to him until Ludo had pointed it out in a way even the courier couldn't ignore or misinterpret. But better late than never, and he stood now with the lighter shield on his arm, testing the weight and moving it around on his arm after the awkward block had almost failed.

Better late than never?

He rolled his eyes at Deimos's sly commentary and grinned, teasing right back. "Tried that first, but I juuust missed it." Yeah, he'd fucked up with the landshark, but he wasn't going to let it eat at him forever.

The dummy was forgotten in the excitement of having Deimos for a sparring partner. Tal shifted his feet a little uncertainly, then found a stance (wide enough for stabbing with a 2-handed spear; a little too wide for trying to comfortably maneuver with a shield in one hand) facing the General with the shield side in front and the spear in his back hand. "I'm all ears!"
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#6
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
The monolith rolled his shoulders a few times, warming up once more, movement along the stone floor much like a panther, a predacious, minatory challenger – giving another roll of his eyes at the passing banter. His gaze gave a quick scrutiny, studying the form and impending technique – wondering just how and when to start. Perhaps back to fundamentals, since there were some notions clearly lacking, and he placed it as a notation for future references to Sah as well. “You need to hone your thinking into tactics. Not panic. Not fear. That will get you, or someone else, killed.” The former drove maligned musings, fight or flight, stupidity or upheaval, and it rarely went well. The landshark hunt could be a clear indicator that the brain was unsuitable in those moments, when allowed and permitted to slip into terror.

Giving himself a moment, unfurling a few deep breaths, he tilted his head, and then moved to a different angle. “There is a careful balance between impulse, muscle memory, and survival.” A brief pause, where his eyes narrowed and the grip on his blade tightened. “Shorten your stance. You will not be grounded enough.” Not for the way Deimos was about to wield his armament. “How would you defend against this?”

And then, very swift and earnestly calculating, the Sword swept his wooden blade towards Talyson’s shoulder.
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#7
Tal was balanced on the balls of his feet, a little bit of a bounce betraying his impatience to be moving but otherwise staying still and watching Deimos for the first sign of the impending attack.

First it came with words. Important words, but ones that Tal more or less knew. He scowled and nodded, not liking to remember the fear that had coursed through him on that hunt and the recent ursur kill but unable to argue with the cold, hard logic in what Deimos said. But how--?

He was so focused on memorizing the words of the lecture that he almost missed the instruction on his stance. It took a few seconds, but Tal hurriedly reshuffled his feet to close the gap - and a flash of surprise crossed his face at how much easier it already felt to move.

"Uh, well--ack!" Action spoke louder then words, and Tal realized the incoming blow was physical, not verbal, almost too late. An easy enough strike towards his forward shoulder, warming up into the lesson, and he pulled the shield up at the angle he'd been learning on his own, attempting to deflect to the side rather than try to brace his scrawny arm against the General's muscular strength.

And perhaps he could be taught, as he also stepped forward at an angle almost without thought, in towards Deimos and away from the sword; that recently-mentioned muscle memory from their spear training making the footwork smooth even if his shield was a little wobbly. "Like... that?" he asked hopefully.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#8
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
If he’d known them, perhaps he should’ve adhered to them.

But that too would be a learning curve, for Deimos had been lectured in halls and across training grounds many, many times in his early days of warrior schooling, and sometimes the words didn’t sink in until they were experienced firsthand.

He watched and waited as Talyson, rightly, countered the motion with taking the wooden blade off his shield, sliding it off to the side rather than attempting to combat the Sword’s superior strength. “Good,” and he nodded, maneuvering off to the side. “Use what advantages you have – especially your speed. And keep moving.”

Because he was escalating again, this time stepping towards Talyson’s left, swinging his blade towards the courier’s ribcage, testing the waters of motion and core, natural, instinctive knowledge.
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#9
In hindsight, the advice to keep moving should have been obvious, but Tal had a somewhat simplified concept of what 'defense' meant. If he didn't have a shield: dodge. If he did have a shield: block. Combining the two was...

Okay, yeah, he should probably do that.

"Yessir," Tal mumbled, a scowl of concentration wrinkling his nose as he worked on synergizing the muscle memory of his footwork with the new weight and balance of the shield. Feet passed lightly over the snow as he backed away from Deimos at an angle--

Or thought he was. Deimos stepped in with another swing and suddenly the distance was closed again. Tal twisted, instinctively crossing the spear behind the shield to provide more bracing and backpedaling even as the sword thunked into the defensive formation. He somehow managed to keep his balance as he let the momentum of the strike push him to the side rather than trying to resist it - and this time he kept moving, circling around the General and moving a little ways back to give himself more time to react.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#10
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
The lecture persisted, pressing from his intonations in deep rumbles, echoing along the mostly-empty grounds, though a few soldiers were lingering on the fringes of the lesson, warming their hands over the braziers. “You need to think of many things at once, until they become habitual and routine. Moving. Dodging. Blocking. Feinting. Attacking.” All a rhythm, a choreographed semblance of violence, perfected in the art of practice – striving to mimic the battlefield as best they could.

But the youth turned and hastened away, granting himself more room, perhaps to watch for Deimos’ next actions, or to gain more opportunity in preparing his feet. “That is fine,” adequate; before he was maneuvering once more. This time there was no opportune signal, as he utilized his mass and speed to close in rapidly, snagging at his sword to purposefully hit towards the Talyson’s shield arm.
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#11
He was trying. He really was. And maybe part of the listen was being able to listen while moving, while reacting, while blocking and trying to think tactically, and not losing the thread of the lecture or the arc of Deimos's sword.

But that didn't make it easy.

Tal didn't try to respond this time; quick quips or even a simple verbal acknowledgment was one too many threads to keep track of when he was trying to keep from getting hit. For once he didn't even react to the praise; no quick grins or puffing up of his chest at the approval - even if it was more perceived than enthusiastic. There was only his focus on the General's body, his feet, and eyes that darted to the sword arm that could strike without warning.

And did.

Tal was fast but the General was faster; he couldn't backpedal or cross-step sideways faster than Deimos could stride forward and suddenly the distance that had been between them--

Was gone.

But it served its purpose. It wasn't much, but the time it took for Deimos to cross the snow that Tal had put between them gave him a chance to sharpen his focus and drop the spear so he could tilt the shield against the blow. Deflection; each time the angle improved a little more, and this time he didn't neglect his feet. He cut the angle forward instead of backward, trying to step into Deimos's non-sword side and dash past to get behind the General.
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#12
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
No words this time; sensing the brief intervals had been enough. Concentration honed and defined, and easily read on Talyson’s face, meant there were likely some overwhelming pieces striving to lock and weave into place. No need for him to make it more complicated; eventually all the building proportions would come together. It didn’t need to be today.

Being behind the Sword now would’ve put the courier at an ideal point for an attack; but that wasn’t what they were working with for the moment. In another time and interval it’d be critical – but these were defensive means and layers. If he didn’t know how to dodge or evade, there wouldn’t be a point in teaching sieges.

Quick again, the monolith pivoted, reaching forward in a swift arc to see what Talyson would do as the blade came towards his head.
out for vengeance
DEIMOS
Talyson Seawright
the Messenger
Courier

Age: 27 | Height: 5'10" | Race: Accepted | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: King's End
Level: 10 - Strg: 44 - Dext: 46 - Endr: 50 - Luck: 52 - Int: 1
BOREAL - Mythical - Dragon (Fire Breath)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 1,869 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#13
In truth, Tal was too busy trying to keep track of his feet and his shield arm and the spear and his opponent to worry about attacking right now, even if that had been the goal. All he wanted was enough time to prepare himself for the next blow and space enough to react to it.

But we don't always get what we want.

Deimos spun in place and needing to cover much less ground, it took him much less time than the courier had done in his scampering past the General. Tal was already turning to keep an eye on his foe and he caught the rising sword out of the corner of his eye. His shield came up automatically and his old instincts caused him to take a step back.

A stuttering step, as his mind tried to push him forward instead, to get inside his friend's guard.

Which only put him off balance as he was caught between advancing forward and retreating back and the sword clunked down onto his raised shield--

This time the deflecting angle wasn't quite right, his confused footwork having snarled the entire process. The shield was pressed down beneath the sword's momentum until it bounced off of Tal's (luckily sturdy) skull and the courier wobbled, seeing stars. "Uh... wait..." He blinked dazedly at Deimos as he let the shield fall back in front of him - though at least he didn't drop it. "I think I screwed up..."
Deimos Ignatius
the Resurrected Sword
Warden of Halo / Guildmaster

Age: 33 | Height: 6'4" | Race: Hybrid | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Halo
Level: 14 - Strg: 72 - Dext: 72 - Endr: 73 - Luck: 80 - Int: 3
BELIAL - Mythical - Peryton (Blend) ZURIEL - Mythical - Unicorn (Healing)
Played by: Heather Online
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Posts: 6,558 | Total: 10,651
MP: 9824
#14
remember that you can't save everyone
remember that you have to try
Deimos could really only watch and observe as Tal’s frame and mind seemed to be caught in a bizarre tether of apprehension, the unknown, and trying to do multiple things at the same time. For the latter, that would eventually be honed in muscle memory. For all the former notions, they appeared to merely trip him into confusion, and eventual knocking of his skull.

Luckily, the Sword fought with a wooden blade with most of his dueling partners – otherwise that could’ve been a far greater wound.

Withholding a sigh, he lowered his weapon and stepped forward. “You all right?” Zuriel was no doubt lingering nearby, and could rapidly fix a concussion or any bizarre head swelling. “You tried to do two defensive actions at once.” Which normally could be a feasible thing, but not in footwork.
out for vengeance
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